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July 21, 2014 | 16 Comments

Help Manage Separation Anxiety with a Simple DIY Photo Book

separation anxiety tools for kidsWhen I stared this blog I never dreamed it would become my job or that I would go to conferences and speak about blogging to other bloggers. This week I am heading to BlogHer in San Jose to lead a writing lab about brainstorming. As I prepare I can see that my daughter is getting a little anxious. Over the years I have made different little activities for my children when I go away like this Kissing Hand Necklace and Mailbox Activity. I decided to make a little photo book because my daughter has always found peace in photos. When  she gets upset looking at photos of family has always helped her calm down. You can use this same tutorial for any kind of book not just one for when you are separated from your children.

Gather your materials. You will need some self laminating sheets ( or a laminator), photos or print outs of photo collages ( I used picmonkey.com to make mine) , a hole punch, scissors, and a small binder ring.separation anxiety

Start by making collages in a 4×6 size. As I said above I used picmonkey.com to make these because I like how easy it is to add text to the collages. When we are apart page layoutThis is the text I added :

Even if you aren’t tight in my arms, you are snug in my heart. My love for you is just the same when we are apart.

When I am gone build with cars and Lego, say hi to the deer, take care of your babies, and get some fro-yo.

When I am gone I am going to ride in a taxi, wait at the airport, fly on a plane, listen to speakers, teach some other bloggers, and see Ms. Maya.

If you miss me while I am gone look at all these photos and know that love can stretch all the way across the world.

My heart is always filled with you and I will hold your hand again in a few days.

Mama loves you no matter how far apart we are.

Create a cover page.

when we cover

Print them out and trim to a 4×6 sizephoto book tutorial

Use the self laminating sheets and laminate the photos. This step was SUPER easy and I picked up these sheets at RiteAid.photo book for kids

Time to punch the holes!photo book for children

Add the ring.when we are apart photo book for kids

Read the book.when we are part book for anxious kids I had my husband read the book to my daughter and I will read it to her many many times before I leave so that it’s familiar. We will talk about each photo and tell stories about them as well. I find it really helpful to tell my children what I will be doing while I am away as well. I never say I won’t miss them, instead I always say I will and then tell them how I handle the emotions and ask them how they do. Giving them control and not telling them what to do has always helped my children feel empowered with hard emotions. I love when they explain to me how they conquered something hard.  I also find the following books very helpful when dealing with any sort of separation anxiety.

Books For Separation Anxiety

All book lists include affiliate links.

kishand2

The Kissing Hand by Audry Penn is an absolute favorite. Chester is a raccoon who like most of us doesn’t like change. In his case, it’s starting school. He wants to stay home with his mama and play with the friends he already has instead of going to school away from her and his friends. So his mama explains to him the magic of the kissing hand. The real magic is the message that we have to do things that scare us sometimes but that the love of our family is always with us to help us through. Go get this book.

Owl Babies

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell is perfectly written for toddlers who are eager to “do it myself” but still need a loving parent safely within view.  Three baby owls wake to find their mom away and as time passes the three all get more anxious in their own ways. My daughter loves this book and completely related to poor little Bill who repeats “I want my mommy!” over and over.  At night she is very much like little Bill, but during the day she is braver like the other two owls Sarah and Percy. No matter what level of separation anxiety your child may have at times they will relate to one or all of the little owls. Of course the story ends with mama coming back and reassuring her little owl babies that she always will.

mama always comes home

Mama Always Comes Home by Karma Wilson was a last-minute grab at the library that I am so thankful I saw. It starts off with animal mothers leaving their babies, for all different reasons. A bird gathering food, a dog greeting his master, and more. The animal mothers leave, but they also always return to their babies. Then it switches to a child and mother. She reassures the child that she will be back and we watch her leave and return . I loved this book because my son isn’t the best when I leave him, he related to this book immediately and was repeating “Mama always comes home!” half way through. { I originally reviewed this in 2009 and have since read it many times to my daughter who also needed those gentle reminders that I would always return. }

Filed Under: Age Preschool, Age: Toddlers, Emotions, For Parents, Home Made Picture Books, Preschool Crafts, Travel | 16 Comments

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16 Comments

  1. Steph says

    July 21, 2014 at 3:56 am

    This is perfect timing as I leave this weekend for the first time in a long time and my four year old daughter is quite concerned about it.

    to Steph" aria-label='reply to this comment to Steph'>reply to this comment
  2. Godly Indian Mom says

    July 21, 2014 at 10:33 am

    This is such a beautiful thought 🙂

    http://www.godlyindianmom.com/

    https://www.facebook.com/godlyindianmom

    to Godly Indian Mom" aria-label='reply to this comment to Godly Indian Mom'>reply to this comment
  3. JDaniel4's Mom says

    July 22, 2014 at 4:26 am

    This is a wonderful time! I hope you have great time at the conference!

    to JDaniel4's Mom" aria-label='reply to this comment to JDaniel4's Mom'>reply to this comment
  4. Andrea says

    July 22, 2014 at 11:56 am

    This is the cutest idea. I love it. We are currently going through a move and this is the perfect way to show the kids that even if we are separated while things are settling we still love them with everything that we are. Beautiful.

    to Andrea" aria-label='reply to this comment to Andrea'>reply to this comment
  5. Annie says

    July 22, 2014 at 3:35 pm

    What a wonderful little photo books idea! I might even make photo books like that for my children 🙂

    to Annie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Annie'>reply to this comment
  6. Diana says

    July 22, 2014 at 11:08 pm

    Super sweet. We have watched Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood – one episode explains that grown ups come back. It’s a good one too. Have a great time!

    to Diana" aria-label='reply to this comment to Diana'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      July 24, 2014 at 10:52 am

      ” Grown….ups come back!” we love that episode too!

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment
  7. Suzanne @KawarthaMums says

    August 6, 2014 at 5:42 am

    Wonderful idea and tutorial. Adding to Kawartha Lakes Mums Toddler Time Pinterest board.

    to Suzanne @KawarthaMums" aria-label='reply to this comment to Suzanne @KawarthaMums'>reply to this comment
  8. Jennifer Tammy says

    August 9, 2014 at 8:27 am

    Amazing! We’ve been reading the Kissing Hand often, and practicing it at my daughter’s twice-weekly daycare drop-off. I’m not sure how we’re going to make it to five-days-a-week, if we ever do, but I love seeing ideas like this to help the process along.

    to Jennifer Tammy" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jennifer Tammy'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      August 10, 2014 at 11:37 pm

      My daughter still asks for kissing hands from time to time and did every day of preschool until Christmas. I love that they have that to help them cope.

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment
  9. Julia says

    October 3, 2015 at 6:13 pm

    Thank you so much for this idea. I made a book like this 6mo ago for my daughter when she was 2.5 years old. My husband was traveling a lot and the book really helped with the separation. Not only does she still love looking at the pictures, but it provided the words she could use to talk about Daddy being away. Wonderful idea!!!

    to Julia" aria-label='reply to this comment to Julia'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      October 4, 2015 at 7:35 pm

      I am THRILLED to hear that. My daughter and I still read hers weekly!

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment

Trackbacks

  1. Your Questions... ANSWERED! - The Measured Mom says:
    August 22, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    […] I don’t send my children to preschool, but I’ve seen some great posts about this from some wonderful preschool teacher blogs.  Check out this post about separation anxiety on Pre-K Pages.  It’s written for teachers, but will still be helpful.  Fun-a-Day has this post for parents of preschoolers.  And No Time for Flashcards has this post about easing separation anxiety with a DIY photo book. […]

    to Your Questions... ANSWERED! - The Measured Mom" aria-label='reply to this comment to Your Questions... ANSWERED! - The Measured Mom'>reply to this comment
  2. 8 Surefire Ways to Calm an Anxious Kid - Idealist Mom says:
    October 19, 2014 at 7:31 am

    […] would benefit from a physical photo book, check out this super helpful tutorial for how to make a simple DIY photo book. Allison at No Time for Flash Cards wrote it so well, I think even I could manage […]

    to 8 Surefire Ways to Calm an Anxious Kid - Idealist Mom" aria-label='reply to this comment to 8 Surefire Ways to Calm an Anxious Kid - Idealist Mom'>reply to this comment
  3. How to help your child through separation anxiety - Laughing Kids Learn says:
    July 24, 2018 at 7:37 pm

    […] and love.  Consider giving your child something from home You might like to give your child a photo book, drawing or something to remind them of you. Something they can look at to remind them of you and […]

    to How to help your child through separation anxiety - Laughing Kids Learn" aria-label='reply to this comment to How to help your child through separation anxiety - Laughing Kids Learn'>reply to this comment
  4. The Best Book for Children Struggling with Separation Anxiety says:
    January 31, 2020 at 7:19 am

    […] love this DIY photo book titled “When we are Apart”. It is full of photos and memories that your children can […]

    to The Best Book for Children Struggling with Separation Anxiety" aria-label='reply to this comment to The Best Book for Children Struggling with Separation Anxiety'>reply to this comment

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